Month: May 2007 (Page 3 of 3)

Wow! I had a wonderful 2 days of “filling my bucket” at Women’s Conference. Although there was no class on dandelions, I attended some fabulous classes taught by really neat people. There were so many fantastic topics it was hard to choose just one class to attend some hours. The theme of the conference was taken from Esther 4:14 “For such a time as this”, and there was a lot said about how this is our time. We have been brought to the Kingdom for such a time as this to do things that only we can do in our situation. Very inspiring! I heard talks about raising small children, the power of prayer and creating a masterpiece of my life. We heard from Bradley Wilcox and Wendy Watson Nelson, also Jeffrey and Patricia Holland. And one talk called “Are we enough? Of course we are!” It was truly a wonderful experience.

One of my favorite sessions was Friday morning’s general session, where they had a wonderful show of speaking, dance and song called “Arms around my sister.” It is described in the booklet as “In an original musical presentation commissioned for this year’s Women’s Conference, we look inside the hearts of women from Old Testament times, early nineteenth century, and our present day. Each addresses the timeless question: Was I sent to the kingdom for such a time as this?” It was so well done and very touching.
The weather could have been more cooperative, as we had very cold temperatures and lots of rain to make our trek around BYU campus a little bit less comfortable than it normally would be. I took advantage of the learning service rooms to do little projects for charity while I listened. I made 3 Christmas stockings and blanket stitched one and a half baby blankets.   
Robin and I had a great time! Each day we came home exhausted but happy. We were glad we had taken our umbrellas, that’s for sure.    
This morning, we braved the cold (it’s REALLY cold for her, since she’s up here from Arizona) and went garage saling, but we only found about 5 garage sales and didn’t buy all that much. At one, however, we both picked up jackets and put them on and wore them for the rest of the time. Luckily, that was a really cheap garage sale, with a grocery bag full of clothes only setting you back $2. We decided to bag the bargain hunting and go and get pedicures. And on the way home, it was actually snowing. Who knows if we’ll be able to wear sandals tomorrow and show off our toes if it’s this cold.

I’m so glad that Ryan held down the fort so I could attend the Women’s conference, and if you haven’t ever gone, you should try to go next year. It’s really worth the time and effort it takes to go.  (And here’s a picture of Whitney Hall.  Anyone else remember that place?)  

AT 5 minutes for Mom, you can enter to win a Mother’s day IPod. Well, who wouldn’t like that? I ask you.

Speaking of Mother’s day, they just had some Mother’s day ad on the radio, and I casually mentioned to my kids, “Mother’s day is in a week and a half. Buy your presents early!” And their responses were:

“Presents for Grandpa,” that was John. It was recently Grandpa’s birthday, and we gave him a really cool blow up skee-ball game. I’m guessing John was very impressed by that giftl

“I don’t have to buy a present, I’ll make one,” from my little craft/recycle girl, Jenna, who, on Cole’s birthday, gave him one of her stuffed animals that she was tired of.

And Cole and Natalie got into a conversation about how it’s unfair that Mothers and Fathers have a special day and there is no “Kid’s Day”. I must have let some snide comment slip out about how maybe they would be happier to not have a mother, and they picked up on that and debated about how long Mom will live and that when I’m gone they won’t have to buy me presents anymore. Although, really, they don’t buy me presents now, so I guess the only difference would be that they would actually have to WORK.

Oh yes, the joy that is Mother’s day. Bring it on.

I actually will be teaching the lesson in Relief Society on Mother’s day, and the RS president mentioned to me that we might be having all the moms come in to enjoy the lesson, so that the only one who would have to be working would be….well, me. But I don’t think that would work. What with staffing the primary and all, and isn’t that when the kids make all those sweet card that hopefully contain chocolate? So, I get to teach a lesson on SERVICE to the Queens of service–the Moms. I’m trying to brainstorm and think of a way to make it really fun, like my last lesson, but without it being so much work. And prizes. I need some cool prizes. Any ideas?

Oh, and speaking of cool moms (were we speaking of cool mom? hmmmm), I’m picking up my good friend Robin tonight, and tomorrow and Friday we are going to Women’s conference at BYU. My kids are so excited to have Robin come (although they are sad that her kids are not coming with her), and Cole has even cleaned his room and is prepared to sleep in the basement. When we were talking about having Robin come, one of the girls said, “That means Robin will clean out our pantry and we get to go to the Spaghetti factory for dinner!” I don’t think she’ll have time to clean our pantry–that’s an all day affair–but we’ll try to work in a trip to the Spaghetti factory.

I haven’t studied the list of classes yet, but I’m really hoping that there’s one on How to deal kindly with your teenager even when he forgets to hand in his assigments and you receive a deficiency notice in the mail or Potty training without the yelling, and no guilt. I could also use one on Just because you have dandelions in your grass that does not make you white trash, or the one on Making dinner when you really don’t feel like it—ever. And I was looking for the class titled How to appreciate your husband for the things he does, and not just grumbling silently when you look at his large pile of unfolded laundry, but I didn’t see that one in the schedule, either. But I’m sure I will find many classes that will deal with just the things I need to hear so that I can be a more patient and loving mother and wife. And I really appreciate that Ryan is going to work from home those two days so I don’t have to find and arrange for child care for my little ones. Hopefully we’ll have nice weather, be uplifted and have a great experience. And if you are there, too, and happen to see someone that looks like me but her name tag says “Jess”, say hi anyway.

Overwhelmed with Joy is doing a book giveaway. If you are interested, go and check it out.

And I have to just mention that I did something for the very first time tonight.  I voted for an American Idol.  Yep.  I had to vote for my favorite idol, miss Melinda.  She’s awesome!  So, yes, I took that first step and voted.  I feel so American now.

Yesterday I spent the day digging.  This should have been the soundtrack of my life yesterday.  You remember when they are on the chain gang?  Yep, that was me.  Digging in the garden.  My sister will be proud of me, since she’s already caught the gardening bug.  I had to dig trenches for watering in our HUGE garden plot.  I also planted a flat of petunias and some snapdragons. Then I went and bought some little plants and seeds, and last night for Family Home Evening we planted our garden.  So, out there we have:

two nice sized rhubarb plants (Thanks, Dad E.) that we actually picked enough for at least one pie last night,

3 little cabbage plants,

12 tiny tomato plants,

9 very small zuccini plants,

and 6 little lettuce plants.

We also planted (from seeds) corn (wishful thinking, I know), carrots, little pumpkins, big pumkins, butternut squash and watermellons. I  have some chives, chamomile and peppermint to plant, too, but ran out of room so they may have to go in a pot.
I know from past failures that the planting is just the beginning and that I have to actually water and weed the darn garden all summer long, but I have a good attitude this year.  I think I can do it.  I have no babies, no toddlers, no long vacations scheduled (sad, I know), so really, there’s no excuse other than laziness to keep us from actually keeping the garden alive.

But Boy am I sore!  I sunburned the back of my arms and my neck, and my back and arms are sore from all that digging!  I do NOT want to be a farmer.